video transcript

A one hundred-year-old chef's hat that survived a shipwreck. It's one of the treasures from the Titanic, the unsinkable ship that went down in April, 1912 on its maiden voyage. Now for the first time since the tragedy, around 5,500 of the ship's items are for sale. President of Guernsey's Auction House in New York, Arlan Ettinger, says that several expeditions to the ship's wreckage yielded the items to be sold. SOUNDBITE: Arlan Ettinger, President of Guernsey's Auction House, saying (English): "That collection, along with a substantial body of intellectual property, is what Guernsey's is offering for sale now. Due to a court decision that took place last year the collection is being sold only as a collection in its entirety. It's not being broken up into various pieces." And the price tag for these collective items is $189 million U.S. dollars. SOUNDBITE: Arlan Ettinger, President of Guernsey's Auction House, saying (English): "Truly a huge number by any standard and yet when you think about it, not long ago, a few months ago, a painting, a single painting was sold for $250 million (USD). Ettinger says scientists believe the ship's remains are eroding and that this collection could be all that's left of the Titanic in years to come. The auction will take place on April the 11th, almost 100 years to the day that the Titanic sank. Tara Cleary, Reuters.